US3753434A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic device for measuring penetration of tooth root canal and endodontic therapy method
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-08-23
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Granted: 1973-08-21
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Expires: 1991-08-23
Abstract
Abstract An electronic device for accurately determining the point of penetration of root canal and contacting of peridontal tissue. The device is battery powered fed through a tickle oscillator conductively connected to a probe diode bridge meter circuit utilized for accurately measuring conductivity between the root canal area and body tissue of the mouth. Potentiometers are provided for adjusting and balancing circuits to insure accuracy of measurements. The method and utilization includes not only measurements of penetration of root canal to peridontal tissue but also provides determination of effectiveness of seal of silver points in restoration as well as disclosing cracked teeth and secondary canals.
Inventors
- 👤 J Pike
- 👤 P Cash
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 17:32
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B7/00; G01B7/26; A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/05; A61B5/053; A61B5/0534; A61C; A61C19/00; A61C19/04; A61C19/041; A61C3/00; A61C5/00; A61C5/40; A61C5/44; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00026; A61B90/00; A61B90/03; A61B2090/033; A61B2090/036; A61B90/06; A61B2090/062; A61C19/042
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
A device for measuring penetration of a root canal comprising: a. a low voltage DC power supply, b. a tickle oscillator means converting said DC power supply to AC, c. a diode bridge having a first side and a second side, said diode bridge rectifying said AC to DC, d. a DC micro-amp meter conductively attached across said diode bridge, said DC micro-amp meter reading converted DC proportional to AC flow, e. an electrically conductive tooth probe of a configuration such as to be adapted to penetrate the root canal of a tooth, f. an electrically conductive ground probe adapted to conductively contact the tissue of the mouth of the patient, g. a common ground interconnecting said DC power supply and said electrically conductive ground probe, h. electrical circuit means interconnecting said power supply, said tickle oscillator, said diode bridge, said micro-amp meter, said tooth probe, and said ground probe, said circuit means constructed and arranged to cause the current to flow through said DC micro-amp meter proportionally to the conductivity between said tooth probe and said ground probe and adapted to cause said DC micro-amp meter to measure said conductivity between said probes.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
194 words
A device for measuring penetration of a root canal comprising: a. a low voltage DC power supply, b. a tickle oscillator means converting said DC power supply to AC, c. a diode bridge having a first side and a second side, said diode bridge rectifying said AC to DC, d. a DC micro-amp meter conductively attached across said diode bridge, said DC micro-amp meter reading converted DC proportional to AC flow, e. an electrically conductive tooth probe of a configuration such as to be adapted to penetrate the root canal of a tooth, f. an electrically conductive ground probe adapted to conductively contact the tissue of the mouth of the patient, g. a common ground interconnecting said DC power supply and said electrically conductive ground probe, h. electrical circuit means interconnecting said power supply, said tickle oscillator, said diode bridge, said micro-amp meter, said tooth probe, and said ground probe, said circuit means constructed and arranged to cause the current to flow through said DC micro-amp meter proportionally to the conductivity between said tooth probe and said ground probe and adapted to cause said DC micro-amp meter to measure said conductivity between said probes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
97 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein: a. said DC power supply comprises a battery supplying a DC potential with a negative terminal grounded to said common ground, b. said tickle oscillator is attached to the positive terminal of said battery converting the DC to AC and, c. a first adjustable potentiomEter means positioned in said circuit means on said first side of said diode bridge, said potentiometer means constructed and arranged to permit adjustment of the conductivity of said circuit to adjust the reading of the DC micro-amp meter to measure a selected resistance or known conductivity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
104 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein said circuit means includes: a. a transistor as a component of the said tickle oscillator, b. a second potentiometer means positioned in said circuit on means said second side of said diode bridge permitting adjustment of conductivity of the various components of said circuit, and c. four solid state diodes interconnected to form said diode bridge interconnecting said tickle oscillator means and said DC micro-amp meter, said diode bridge constructed and arranged to rectify the alternating current output of said tickle oscillator thereby causing said DC micro-amp meter to register AC current flow as proportional DC current flow.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
94 words
The method of measuring the penetration of a root canal probe comprising the steps of: a. opening the pulp chamber of the tooth, b. activating a low voltage micro-amp measuring device having first and second electrically conductive probes, c. grounding said first probe to the tissue of the mouth of the patient, d. inserting said second probe into the root canal of the tooth of the patient, and e. measuring the conductivity of the tooth between the first and second probes, f. determining the point of contact of said second probe with peridontal tissue.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
94 words
The method of measuring the penetration of a root canal probe comprising the steps of: a. opening the pulp chamber of the tooth, b. activating a low voltage micro-amp measuring device having first and second electrically conductive probes, c. grounding said first probe to the tissue of the mouth of the patient, d. inserting said second probe into the root canal of the tooth of the patient, and e. measuring the conductivity of the tooth between the first and second probes, f. determining the point of contact of said second probe with peridontal tissue.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention of claim 4 including the step of determining the location of accessory root canals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 4 including the step of detecting the existence of fractures in the tooth.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention of claim 4 including the steps of: a. inserting a silver point into the root canal, b. measuring electronically the depth of penetration of said silver point.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention of claim 7 including the steps of: a. placing a non-conductive sealer on the said silver point, b. inserting the said silver point in the root canal of a tooth, and c. measuring the conductivity thereby determining the effectiveness of the seal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention of claim 4 including the step of: a. placing a non-conductive seal on a silver point, b. inserting the said silver point in a root canal, and c. determining the effectiveness of the seal by measuring the conductivity.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-20 | 1977-02-19 | 1977-08-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-20 | 1981-02-19 | 1981-08-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-20 | 1985-02-19 | 1985-08-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |